Choral Choir (SSAA) - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.505695

By Alan Wagstaff. By Alan Wagstaff. Arranged by Alan Wagstaff. Celtic,Folk,Holiday,Irish,Jewish,Traditional. Octavo. 23 pages. Alan Wagstaff #117353. Published by Alan Wagstaff (A0.505695).

This original song uses English folk idioms to retell a traditional snowdrop legend. The chorus is an English 'weather rhyme'. It has been set for choir (SSAA), piano, harp, fiddle, and flute. One of the Snowdrop’s folk names is ‘Eve’s Comforter’; another ‘Maid of February’. Candlemas Carol Maid of February, if you will, grace mantle, hearth, and windowsill. So let us all be of goodwill and gather round, together. When Winter holds the world in thrall, and ice and snow lie over all, the Maiden can at once recall, the coming Summer weather. If Candlemas is fair and bright, cold Winter will take a second bite. But if this day brings clouds and rain, Winter won’t return again. When Eve and Adam left Eden fair, the snow and ice lay ev’rywhere, which filled their hearts with bleak despair, for they could find no pardon. They glimpsed the flowers of paradise, beyond the earthly cold and ice, but they could not be perfect, twice, nor get back to the garden. If Candlemas is fair and bright, cold Winter will take a second bite. But if this day brings clouds and rain, Winter won’t return again. A teardrop fell from Eve’s sad eye, and froze upon the ground close by. An angel raised it up on high, and called for Heaven’s power. The ice became a snowdrop, then. Thus hope returned to Eve again. And all the people say: ‘Amen!’ in praise of Winter’s flower. If Candlemas is fair and bright, cold Winter will take a second bite. But if this day brings clouds and rain, Winter won’t return again. Alan Wagstaff The legend tells that, after Adam and Eve were banished from Eden’s perpetual summer, they wandered, despondently, into Earth’s freezing winter. Eve wept as the snow fell around them. Seeing her tears, an angel intervened. He caught a teardrop when it froze and breathed on it, turning it into a snowdrop. When the angel left more snowdrops sprang up. Thus, snowdrops in Winter, serve as a reminder, that better times will come around. The tale was often recalled at Candlemas: February 2nd.

Choral Choir (SSAA) - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1040536

By Alan Wagstaff. By Alan Wagstaff. Arranged by Alan Wagstaff. Celtic,Folk,Irish,Traditional. Octavo. 45 pages. Alan Wagstaff #639233. Published by Alan Wagstaff (A0.1040536).

'Do As You Will' is a folksy, Celtic feel choral song arranged for SSAA -with harp, flute, fiddle, and accordion accompaniment. Its shifting tonality adds complexity. The lyric is female point of view: Do As You Will Once I had a soldier lad who swore he’d love me truly. Ah! But now those days are gone! When the battle raged he turned his heel and followed duly. I gave him the salute and soldiered on. The wind’s about the barley and the mice are in the meal, so rise up bright and early all young lasses if you would do as you will. Then I loved a farmer’s son whose trinkets were his kisses. Ah! But now those days are gone! But on the road to market he had scores of narrow misses. I tossed him out for chaff and ploughed straight on. The wind’s about the barley and the mice are in the meal, so rise up bright and early all young lasses if you would do as you will. Next I had a blacksmith who was swarthy, dark, and handsome. Ah! But now those days are gone! He stole away my store of coin and ran off with the ransom. I hope he finds the fires! I’m forging on! The wind’s about the barley and the mice are in the meal, so rise up bright and early all young lasses if you would do as you will. Jack the Tinker courted me, and he was ever willing. Ah! But now those days are gone! Everywhere he plied his trade he fell to Jack and Jilling. I rattled his old pans and wandered on. The wind’s about the barley and the mice are in the meal, so rise up bright and early all young lasses if you would do as you will. There’s no faith in any man, not even my own brother. Ah! But would those days were gone! Girls, if you but would, or can, you’d best love one another and leave them all behind and carry on! The wind’s about the barley and the mice are in the meal, so rise up bright and early all young lasses if you would do as you will.

Choral Choir (SSAA) - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1040537

By Alan Wagstaff. By Alan Wagstaff. Arranged by Alan Wagstaff. Celtic,Folk,Irish,Traditional. Octavo. 36 pages. Alan Wagstaff #645329. Published by Alan Wagstaff (A0.1040537).

This haunting, new song, in the mixolydian mode (Bb), is in the Irish tradition. It is written for a female choir (SSAA) with an additional solo part; the accompaniment is for harp, accordion, flute, fiddle, and bass. This song was inspired by J.M. Synge's 1904 play 'Riders of the Storm' and quotes a line from it. The chorus quotes from the Irish version of 'Fhir a Bhartain' a song written in the late 19th century by Sìne NicFhionnlaigh of Tong, Lewis, Scotland. Fear A Bháta The Boatman A fhir a bháta is na horó eile Man of the boat and no one else. A fhir a bháta is na horó eile Man of the boat and no one else. A fhir a bháta is na horó eile Man of the boat and no one else. Mo shoraid slán leat gach áit a dtéid thú. My safe blessing with you everywhere you go. Lyrics O, Bryan McCauley the boats are still moored. and down in Kilronan only ghosts are aboard. The calico is furled and the tide is still low, so rest a while longer, till the time comes to go. It’s the life of a young man to be fishing far from shore. For there’s scant other work on the wild Inishmore. Fhir a bharta na horo – fhir a bharta is-na eile. Mo shor slan leat gach ait a dteid thu. The herring are sleeping and safe from the net. So rest my fisher lad - do not rise yet. The hillcrests of Galway are scarce tinged with red. O, sleep a while longer and keep to your bed. It’s the life of a young man to be fishing far from shore. For there’s scant other work on the wild Inishmore. Fhir a bharta na horo – fhir a bharta is-na eile. Mo shor slan leat gach ait a dteid thu. The cold-hearted Ocean knows nothing of men; it takes them or leaves them, with no heed where or when. The candles are out in the homes round the Bay, so stay in my arms, love, till the first light of day. It’s the life of a young man to be fishing far from shore. For there’s scant other work on the wild Inishmore. Fhir a bharta na horo – fhir a bharta is-na eile. Mo shor slan leat gach ait a dteid thu.

Choral Choir (SSAA) - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.505691

By Alan Wagstaff. By Traditional. Arranged by Alan Wagstaff. Celtic,Folk,Irish,Traditional. Octavo. 29 pages. Alan Wagstaff #117346. Published by Alan Wagstaff (A0.505691).

Two beautiful Scottish folk songs brought together for choir (SSAA), flute, harp, piano, and fiddle.